The Best Of Sandy Atkinson Review!

Artist: Sandy Atkinson

Album: The Best Of Sandy Atkinson

Released: 2025

Artist Website: https://sandyatkinson.net/

Florida based blues and roots powerhouse vocalist Sandy Atkinson has been working at her craft for a long time and it shows in this 21 song "Best Of" collection. She has a naturally gritty voice and power to spare. The band that surrounds her on this set delivers the goods at every turn. This is a lineup of musicians that knows the meaning of space and spporting a great vocalist, adding color but never overstepping. 

Tired Of The Cryin' is a standout track in the R&B mold that is hinging on tragic. Sandy's vocals are simply delivered at the highest level. It would be a perfect soundtrack for a whiskey soaked break up scene in a little bar. The kind of breakup that the on screen character realizes it was their own fault and it could've been avoided, but now it's too late and all that is left to do is drink it away tonight. Tired Of The Cryin' reflects the kind of hurt that never really goes away, but just becomes tolerable. 

The minor key cut Let It Go has it all and then some. A slinky groove with some Stevie Ray Vaughan like guitar fills and a fiercely emotive vocal performance. This is a track that feels like it would be at home on a Robert Cray record. Again flirting with the R&B side of the blues, while the unmistakable anchor of the performance is the blues, but not quite a straight up traditional take. The performance is simmering without ever boiling over. Burning hot on a low flame. 

She's Just A Floozy caught my eye based on the title and certainly did not disappoint.  This cut is an acoustic blues as straight as it gets with a stellar performance from all. Authenticity is the word that comes to mind with this little gem. Floozy is a word that just doesn't get enough play anymore as far as this writer is concerned , let alone to be put to melody! It is hard to narrow down my favorite track on the is release but this one makes the short list for sure! 

The straight up swingy blues Have A Good Time Tonight rolls along the way that upbeat shuffles do. It bounces and swings all the way through and I'm sure fills the dance floor at all the band's gigs. A softer approach on the vocal doesn't go unnoticed and it was the right choice, adding a bit of patience and timeless class to the production. At just under 3:20 in length the band gets in and right back out leaving the listener wanting more of the cool vibe that is a throwback in time. 

This record falls somewhere between traditional and contemporary. It lives in those wonderful cracks that perhaps Roomful Of Blues resides in. Sticking to the blues tradition while still moving the ball forward a few feet. Never too far to lose the traditionalist, but still putting her own fingerprint on the time tested blues format. Sometimes it's polished, sometimes gritty, but consistently emotive and well done. Fans of the blues and classic R&B will find a lot to like about this 21 song collection!